View source for Convertible Submarine by Claire Phillip

{{infobox2
|title=Convertible Submarine 
|author=Claire Phillip
|reviewer=Sam Tyler
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=What makes a book a book and not a toy?  Discover for yourself with this convertible book that can be read, but can also played with and even sat in!
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Maybe
|pages=7
|publisher=Miles Kelly Publishing Ltd
|date=April 2016
|isbn=9781782099987
|website=
|video= 
|aznuk=1782099980
|aznus=1782099980
|cover=1782099980
}}

They told me life would be easy reviewing books; grab it, read it, review it.  What they did not say that I would have to do is also play with it, build it and sit in it!  There is a thin line between an interactive book and a toy.  When this thin line involves a book that you can convert into a play mat and also a submarine, it is hard to understand what it is at all.  Welcome to the world of the ''Convertible Submarine''.

This book is an adventure of exploration into the depth of the ocean, follow the crew of the submarine as they make their way to the ocean floor and look out at the wonders; sharks, octopuses and even a sunken ship.  Once you have enjoyed following their adventure you can act it out yourself by redesigning the book into a submarine.

There is no denying that Claire Philip's ''Convertible Submarine'' is a very enjoyable piece of kit.  Any 2-5 year old will have great fun laying it down flat and reading the story and then turning it around and creating the submarine.  Once built, the book looks like a little submarine that a child can sit in; it even has a little port hole to look through.  

The colours and illustrations on the book are bold and very attractive.  The story element is designed almost like one of those car mats you can buy that look like a busy town.  You follow the tale with the writing, but you can also follow it with the images.  There is even a little pathway that leads through the story that is ideal for a little toy submarine to be placed on the book – this would have been nice to have been included in the package.

The book element is overshadowed somewhat by the converted submarine; here the colours and pictures come into their own.  The little fish that surround the drawing look great and the sub is a dashing shade of yellow.  It really captures a child's imagination as they go on their own adventure.

The only thing that lets down the book is the lack of narrative.  This is more of a tour guide than a story and a gentle stroll across the ocean floor may be nice, but it does not grip.  Instead the book is reliant more on its play factors; so is it a book or a toy?  The line is certainly blurred and it perhaps leans a little more towards the toy.  However, if it is fun to use, does it really matter?  A child can always sit in their submarine and read another book that has a stronger story.

There are other convertible vehicles available including [[Convertible Spaceship by Claire Philip and Belinda Gallagher|Convertible Spaceship]] and also loads of ocean tales on offer [[Commotion In The Ocean by Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz]]
 
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